Michelle Obama rocked that State Dinner dress!!!

[Anonymous]

She wore a dress by an Indian designer, who is known for his designs for royal families in India, among others. Perhaps he didn't realize what was appropriate for Mrs. Obama to wear when hosting Indian guests. Not likely. She looked great.

[Anonymous]

I thought she looked stunning and appropriate. I love that she went with an Indian-American designer. I don't always agree with her fashion choices but I think she does a fantastic job bringing lesser known designers into the limelight.

Bobby Jindal's wife, who is also Indian, had bare arms/shoulders as well.

[Anonymous]

The dress and Mrs. Obama are beautiful, but honestly, it doesn't fit. It looks like she needs to give the bust a little tug. Her boobs shouldn't be creating that over-hang.

[Anonymous]

Michelle and Mrs. Fenty were the least covered. At least Bobby Jindal's wife had a one-shoulder that came up very high on the other side. Michelle should have worn her shawl for the photos.

Just one of the many examples of the Obamas not asking their WH staff to keep them up to speed on proper etiquette. (see story about touching the Queen and all those pics of the President bowing) To be fair to all women, on Inauguration night the President wore white tie with a regular tuxedo. White tie always requires tails. He essentially made up his own formal look.

Mrs. Obama has a stylist who is not known within the wardrobe consulting world and uncertified by the industry. She needs to find someone competent who understands protocol requirements, among other things. This stylist (a man, btw) should have communicated with the designer to ensure that no cultural snafus would happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michelle and Mrs. Fenty were the least covered. At least Bobby Jindal's wife had a one-shoulder that came up very high on the other side. Michelle should have worn her shawl for the photos.

Just one of the many examples of the Obamas not asking their WH staff to keep them up to speed on proper etiquette. (see story about touching the Queen and all those pics of the President bowing) To be fair to all women, on Inauguration night the President wore white tie with a regular tuxedo. White tie always requires tails. He essentially made up his own formal look.

Mrs. Obama has a stylist who is not known within the wardrobe consulting world and uncertified by the industry. She needs to find someone competent who understands protocol requirements, among other things. This stylist (a man, btw) should have communicated with the designer to ensure that no cultural snafus would happen.

I agree and I love her.

It also should have been altered to loosen the top so it wouldn't pucker and lay smooth across her chest. I wonder why the designer didn't make short sleeves if she wasn't going to wear her shawl over one shoulder or higher on her arms? It was beautiful but at this level it should be a perfect both culturally and fit. So what if the wardrobe consultant is a man, he better start studying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is great and for the other pp your are just jealous...

I am definitely not jealous of Michelle Obama. I think that dress is a bit flashy and not appropriate for state dinner.

[Anonymous]

Some of the comments above remind me of why DC will never be considered a center for fashion or style.

[Anonymous]

honestly, and i am an academic who studies culture, i think a lot of the previous comments are based in an outmoded way of thinking. the world is organized a lot differently these days. protocol is changing. the obamas are ahead of the curve. they are....progressive!

[Anonymous]

As an etiquette consultant, I have often heard the suggestions about changing protocol. But what it really boils down to is that etiquette and protocol are really based upon the principle of making guests feel comfortable and welcome. It is about respecting others. That should never change.

Americans are so very ego-centric which is why much of the world puts that "ugly American" label on us. We tend to feel that it should always be about us. Honoring guests should never be "outmoded."

[Anonymous]

It was a gorgeous dress. Simply beautiful. And as PPs have pointed out, designed by an Indian designer. I would just like to see her cover her arms at a few more occasions. Even if it's just a sheer drape. And I'm still irked by the official portrait. I do not think that bare arms on that occasion is appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she's georgeous and she looked hot in that dress. But I don't think it was appropriate. She upstaged her guests and it was too sexy. I always think she looks beautiful and stylish, but I often think she looks inappropriate. It bums me out because I love her.

Is this more your style?

[Anonymous]

Oh come on - it was easy to upstage the guests. The wife looked so frumpy and those colors!! She looked disheveled and moody.

I think the reason why some posters are uncomfortable with Michelle's bare arms is because they are used to a First Lady image that is much older. I don't want to see sleeveless on a sixty year old - ala Nancy Pelosi.

[Anonymous]

so many June Cleavers here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh come on - it was easy to upstage the guests. The wife looked so frumpy and those colors!! She looked disheveled and moody.

I think the reason why some posters are uncomfortable with Michelle's bare arms is because they are used to a First Lady image that is much older. I don't want to see sleeveless on a sixty year old - ala Nancy Pelosi.

Oh let her be. She's 72 years old for goodness' sake. I think both she and Michelle Obama were dressed perfectly for their ages and body types.

[Anonymous]

I thought she looked great and the dress was beautiful and appropriate to the formal occasion. At least there was no belt under the bust look! However, I did think that wearing a dress that took 40 Indian workers three weeks to make by hand (as reported by the Post) was a bit over the top in these times.